Patents Represented by Attorney WRB-IP LLP
  • Patent number: 8347998
    Abstract: A working machine including an internal combustion engine for supplying torque to the driving wheels of the working machine, and a transmission line arranged between the internal combustion engine and the driving wheels for transmitting torque from the internal combustion engine to the driving wheels. The working machine further including at least one hydraulic pump in a hydraulic system for moving an implement arranged on the working machine and/or steering the working machine. The transmission line includes at least one electric machine for driving or braking the driving wheels, and/or for generating electric power for the at least one hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Hans Ericson, Joakim Unnebäck, Sven-Åke Carlsson, Reno Filla
  • Patent number: 8352127
    Abstract: A control system for a working machine includes a device for changing direction of the working machine, an operator controlled lever, and an electronic control unit adapted to receive an input signal indicative of desired direction from the position of the operator controlled element and to generate an output signal for producing a change of direction of the working machine, corresponding to the position of the operator controlled element, via said device. The control system includes an electronic safety device adapted to be controlled by the position of the operator controlled element and adapted to allow control of the device via the output signal and to block control of the device via the output signal, respectively, depending on the position of the operator controlled element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Patrik Wahlström, Bo Vigholm
  • Patent number: 8352165
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a combustion engine brake especially for a heavy vehicle like a truck or a bus is disclosed. By detecting a brake torque value which is delivered by the combustion engine brake for braking the vehicle, and, if the amount of the difference between a demanded brake torque value and the delivered brake torque value exceeds a predetermined first limit value, by operating the combustion engine brake by means of at least one additional or alternative second operating parameter which is selected in order to create a corrected brake torque value, a considerably improved accuracy, efficiency and/or reliability of the combustion engine brake can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Göran Olsson
  • Patent number: 8347601
    Abstract: A device is provided for pivoting at least one pivotable element in a gas turbine engine between a first and a second position in order to influence a gas flow in an annular gas duct in at least one of the positions. The device includes a moveable annular member which is arranged externally around the gas duct and is connected to the pivotable element in order to effect the pivoting of the pivotable element. The annular member is more specifically arranged to be displaced in a substantially axial direction and arranged to pivot the pivotable element when it is displaced axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventor: Rustan Brogren
  • Patent number: 8344849
    Abstract: Method for assuring that the operator of a vehicle is an authorized driver, the method including utilizing an onboard, multi-mode driver identification system to ascertain whether an operator is an authorized driver. A first driver identification procedure is performed on a present operator of the vehicle and determining whether the present operator is an authorized or unauthorized driver of the vehicle. A second driver identification procedure is performed on the present operator of the vehicle and determining whether the present operator is an authorized or unauthorized driver of the vehicle, wherein the first and second driver identification procedures are performed with a time interval therebetween, the time interval being dependent upon the nature of the work being performed by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Petter Larsson, Andreas Hagemann, Hanna Björk
  • Patent number: 8342141
    Abstract: An engine cooling system in which a coolant flows through a coolant circuit includes: a pump for circulating coolant under pressure through the coolant circuit; a radiator provided in the coolant circuit, wherein the radiator cools coolant passing through the coolant circuit; a by-pass conduit, wherein the by-pass conduit allows coolant to by-pass the radiator, a flow control valve, which regulates the flow rate of coolant flowing through the radiator and the by-pass conduit; and a controller, wherein the controller controls the flow control valve in response to input signals from at least one pressure sensor and at least one temperature sensor in the coolant circuit. The flow control valve includes a first controllable valve located upstream of the radiator and downstream of the by-pass conduit, and a second controllable valve located in the by-pass conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Erik Dahl, Steven Adelman
  • Patent number: 8337761
    Abstract: A particulate filtration device includes a filter with a feed inlet side for a feed gas and an filtrate outlet for a filtrate, feed gas channels and filtrate channels, and one or more diaphragms between the feed inlet side and the filtrate outlet. Opposite to the feed inlet side a particulate outlet is arranged with a collector compartment attached to the particulate outlet for collecting particulates retained in the feed gas channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: Volvo Technology Corp., Höganäs AB
    Inventors: Lennart Andersson, Jonas Edvardsson, Edward Jobson, Heije Westberg, Per-Olof Larsson, Owe Mars, Jörgen Knuth-Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8333073
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with an exhaust gas pipe for taking exhaust gases from the engine's combustion chamber and an intake pipe for supplying air to the combustion chamber. The engine includes a turbo charging system with a high-pressure turbine that interacts with a high-pressure compressor and a low-pressure turbine that interacts with a low-pressure compressor, for recovery of energy from the engine's exhaust gas flow and pressurizing of the engine's intake air. The high-pressure turbine is connected to the low-pressure turbine via a duct. An exhaust gas pressure regulator is located in the duct between the high-pressure turbine and the low-pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Kent Giselmo, Lars Sundin
  • Patent number: 8327617
    Abstract: An outlet nozzle for a jet engine has a gas intake and a gas outlet, at least one opening being provided through the nozzle boundary wall for the injection of a fluid into the nozzle in a direction perpendicular to one plane, for the purpose of controlling the direction of a gas flow from the jet engine so that vectoring occurs substantially tangentially in this plane. A first opening configuration is provided through the nozzle boundary wall on a first side of the nozzle center line and a second opening configuration is provided through the nozzle boundary wall on a second side of the nozzle center line. At least one of said first and second opening configurations has a substantial extension in the axial direction of the nozzle, in order to permit selective injection of the fluid through said opening configuration to a varying extent in the axial direction of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventors: Bernhard Gustafsson, Anders Lundbladh
  • Patent number: 8330575
    Abstract: A keyless access system is provided for a truck including a tractor area and a cargo area provided with at least an access door. This system includes a main control unit located in the tractor area and adapted to interact with a customer identification device to selectively operate a control access arrangement which allows or prevents access to a driver cabin of the truck, a secondary control unit located in or near the cargo area and adapted to interact with the same customer identification device and to selectively operate an actuator which locks or unlocks the access door, and a bidirectional telecommunication arrangement between the main and secondary units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventor: Loïc Vincent
  • Patent number: 8332120
    Abstract: A method for increasing active duration time of an automatic freewheeling function in a vehicle with cruise control and during a cruise control active period is provided. The function includes an arrangement for determining a vehicle set speed (Vset speed) for when the function is allowed to be activated and an arrangement for calculating a predetermined allowable vehicle speed drop to a first under speed value (Vunderspeed) below the vehicle set speed (Vset speed), The function is controlled based on the under speed value, in order to extend active duration time of the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Johan Bjernetun, Anders Eriksson
  • Patent number: 8327619
    Abstract: In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, the engine includes a plurality of cylinders each of which having at least one valve of a first type, an inlet valve, and at least one valve of a second type, an exhaust valve, arranged in an end part of the cylinder, each of the cylinders further having a piston movably arranged therein, the piston being adapted to reciprocate between a first end position and a second end position, wherein the first end position is located closer to the valves than the lower end position, the engine being adapted to allow deactivation of at least one cylinder by reducing its supply of fuel, the engine further being adapted to allow varying opening times of the inlet valves and/or the exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Per Persson
  • Patent number: 8332090
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle and a method for operating a hybrid vehicle are provided, the vehicle including at least a first drive unit and a second drive unit coupled to the first drive unit, wherein the second driving unit recovers kinetic energy during braking the hybrid vehicle, a transmission unit which can be coupled to the first and/or second drive unit and a drive axle. It is proposed to change the transmission ratio of the transmission unit depending on a desired amount of energy recovered by the second drive unit during regenerative braking or a predetermined time period before the anticipated start of regenerative braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Per Rutquist, Lisa Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 8317996
    Abstract: A method is provided for corrosion protection in a marine construction, such as a marine surface vessel or a marine structure, the marine construction including at least one metal element and a sacrificial anode adapted to be at least partly immerged in an electrolyte in the form of water, in which the marine construction is at least partly immerged, the at least one metal element including a metal part, the sacrificial anode being provided for corrosion protection of the metal part. The method includes connecting at least one of the at least one metal element and the sacrificial anode to a DC electrical power outlet so as to allow an electric de-passivation current through an electrical circuit including the sacrificial anode, the metal element and the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: AB Volvo Penta
    Inventors: Carl Nelvig, Petter Igede
  • Patent number: 8321116
    Abstract: A system for controlling a foundation brake of a vehicle. The system includes an adaptive cruise control (ACC) device, an arrangement to detect or predict excessive use of the foundation brake and an arrangement to disengage the ACC device on detection of excessive use of the foundation brake of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Peter Lingman, Andreas Johnsson
  • Patent number: 8321107
    Abstract: In a method and a control unit for controlling the position of an automatic disc clutch in a vehicle, which disc clutch is arranged to transmit motive force from an internal combustion engine to an input shaft of a stagegeared gearbox in the vehicle, the control unit is arranged to position the clutch in a first position, preparing the vehicle for take off, with the gearbox having a starting gear engaged, and where the clutch in the first position transmits a smaller torque, characterized in that the control unit being further arranged to position the clutch in a second more disengaged position compared to the first position, if a driver of the vehicle does not demand vehicle take off torque by activating a throttle control within a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Svante Karlsson, Erik Lauri
  • Patent number: 8312618
    Abstract: In a module system for manufacturing variants of two and three stable positions fluid-operated actuators a cylinder housing of both variants of two and three stable positions actuators is manufactured from a blank. The blank includes at least one opening for a cover and is identical for the variants of the two and three stable position actuator, and is at least prepared for the arrangement of a first pressure duct, a second pressure duct, and a first cylinder diameter of the cylinder housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Anders Hedman, Petter Frejinger
  • Patent number: 8312861
    Abstract: In a method for reducing engine vibrations during engine braking with a malfunctioning engine brake, the engine brake includes an arrangement for altering a timing of at least one exhaust valve and an arrangement for varying an exhaust gas back pressure. The method includes detecting piston acceleration for each cylinder in the engine during the use of the engine brake, comparing the detected piston acceleration with a predetermined reference value, decreasing exhaust gas back pressure during engine braking if at least one piston is detected with a piston acceleration deviating more than a predefined amount from the predetermined reference value so that the piston acceleration will be falling within the predefined amount from the predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Erik Ott, Jonas Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8307634
    Abstract: This exhaust arrangement for an exhaust line having an exhaust gas treatment device and a liquid injection device located upstream of the exhaust gas treatment device includes a single moving element incorporating a throttling member having a solid closing surface and, operatively connected to the throttling member, a turbulence generating member and an actuator for controlling the position of the moving element between a first position wherein the moving element is in a retracted position and creates a minimum back pressure in the exhaust line and a second position wherein the moving element is in an extended position and creates a maximum back pressure, or selectively in at least one intermediate position wherein the moving element is in a turbulence generating position wherein the turbulence generating member intrudes at least partially into the exhaust line and creates turbulences within the flow of exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventor: Vincent Lauga
  • Patent number: 8307647
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine arrangement includes an EGR circuit connecting a exhaust circuit to an intake circuit to incorporate a portion of exhaust gases in the intake gases, at least one turbine located, and a dedicated drain conduit which connects the EGR circuit to the exhaust circuit. The EGR circuit includes at least one low position point and the dedicated drain conduit permanently connects the low position point of the EGR circuit to the exhaust circuit upstream of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventors: Loïc Le Flem, Benoit Lombard